Children and Family Services

Union Endicott High School senior, Abigail Mancini (pictured center), is helping build a stronger Broome County community! On March 8, 2018, Abigail accompanied by her dad, Marco Mancini, donated 70 backpacks filled with self-care items for boys and girls, to Broome Social Services. Barbara Ravas, Director of Family Services and Julia Hepworth, Director of Child Protective Services at Broome Social Services, warmly welcomed and thanked Abigail for the wonderful donations. The Participation in Government class which Abigail took, required student projects, this encouraged Abigail to undertake a 4-month long assignment.

Abigail empathized with the struggle that children have, when being moved from their homes into foster care. She wanted to help ease their burdens. Through family, neighbors, community members, local schools and Social Services, she requested and received contributions of backpacks, toiletries, stuffed animals, gloves, hats and more. Children will know that others are thinking about them when they receive the backpacks.

Thanks Abigail, you get an A++ from Broome County Government!

The Broome County Department of Social Services will hold a Public Hearing regarding the 2018 Child & Family Services Plan on Thursday, July 19th, 2018, at the Broome County Library in the “Decker Room", 5:00PM - 6:30PM. The address is 185 Court St. Binghamton, New York. Child protective services, adult services, and family and children’s services components of the plan are to be considered.

The public is invited.

Daycare Unit

Client Contact Number:607.778.2628

Unit Description:Authorizes daycare services for families who are eligible according to the agency's Consolidated Services Plan. These include families:

On Temporary Assistance who are working or involved in a work activity.

In receipt of Child Protective or Preventive Services as part of a therapeutic service plan.

Who are working and earn less than 200% of the state income standard.

Daycare is available for children age 6 weeks to 13 years old. The daycare staff assists families in locating appropriate daycare facilities and then calculates and authorizes appropriate reimbursement to the daycare provider for their services.

The daycare unit is responsible for registration and compliance of Family Daycare Providers and School-Age Childcare programs. The staff assists prospective providers through the application process and completes required inspections. All complaints related to Family Daycare, School-Age Childcare or unregistered providers are investigated by the Daycare Staff.

Family Services Unit

Unit Description:These units provide services to ongoing cases involving families and children after the intake assessment is complete. These units provide, arrange for, or monitor the provision of services to ensure children's safety and welfare. Services are provided to children at home, in out of home care (foster care), and youth in independent living status. The primary goal of these units is to assure safety, and well being of children with their families or in another permanent placement.

Central Intake Unit

Contact Number: 607.778.2635 Fax: 607.778.3506

Unit Description:

Referrals should be made to the intake line, which is staff from 8am to 4pm Monday – Friday, with the exception of major holidays.Messages left on the intake line will be returned within one business day.Central Intake is not an emergency service.

When contacting Central Intake the referral sources should have the following information:

Names and dates of birth for all adults and children residing in the household;

Address and phone contact information for the parent/guardian;

A description of the presenting problem and risk of foster care placement;

The name and contact information for any other services providers involved with the family.

Referrals to Central Intake are accepted when a child or children in the home are identified as being at immediate or imminent risk of placement in foster care.There are no financial eligibility requirements

Caseworkers from Central Intake assess the household and risk of placement.If eligible for Mandated Preventive Services, Caseworkers make referrals to programs provided by contract agencies as available.Mandated Preventive Services are provided to families with children under the age of 18 who reside in Broome County and are not currently working with staff from Child Protective Services, PINS Diversion or Family Services.

If not eligible, Caseworkers provide information regarding community-based providers who may be able to assist the family.

All services provided by BCDSS as a result of a Central Intake referral are on a voluntary basis and are offered only if the family is willing to participate in services.

Protective Services Intake for Adults

Walk-in Schedule:8:00am - 4:00pm

Client Contact Number:607.778.2635

Unit Description:PSA is a state mandated program provided to anyone age 18 or older who is physically or mentally impaired, is in danger of harm through their own actions/inactions or the actions of others, and who have no one willing and able to help them in a responsible manner. PSA recipients include the frail elderly, the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, substance abusers and the abused and exploited. In addition to casework services, many PSA clients receive representative payee services, as they have been determined by the Social Security or Veterans Administration to be unable to manage their own financial resources.